February 2010
A simple blood test that could help save lives by detecting ovarian cancer at an earlier stage is now available in the UK. The OvPlex™ test is being welcomed by cancer specialists and ovarian cancer charities as a superior performing diagnostic for the earlier detection of ovarian cancer in symptomatic women.
OvPlex™ is being introduced into the UK by Intus Healthcare, having secured distribution rights from the Australian ASX listed company that developed the test, HealthLinx Ltd.
Women in Scotland will be able to attend Spire Murrayfield Hopsital in Edinburgh to have the blood test performed. Designed for symptomatic women or those with a family history of ovarian cancer, the OvPlex™ test can be ordered directly from Intus Healthcare (www.ovplex.co.uk) at a cost of £275 (incl. VAT). A test wallet along is sent to the patient by post. Results of the blood test will be forwarded to the patient’s GP who will discuss the results with the patient in further detail.
Some 6,600 British women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year and diagnosis often comes too late as only 40 per cent of those diagnosed live beyond five years .
Dr Cameron Martin, MD MRCOG Consultant gynaecological oncologist at Spire Murrayfield Hospital, explains: “Ovarian cancer is the most fatal gynaecological cancer. Currently, the majority of patients with ovarian cancer present to specialists with a very advanced stage of disease but if we can detect at an earlier stage, patients have a far better outlook. So a test that can detect ovarian cancer at an early stage is potentially very significant. OvPlex™ trial data suggests it is 94% accurate in detecting the disease at all stages and the test marks a great leap forward in helping to detect and successfully treat, ovarian cancers.”
Launched in Australia in October 2008, the UK will be the second market where OvPlex™ will be utilised to detect ovarian cancer at all stages. OvPlex™ is a superior alternative to other commercially available diagnostic tests, including CA125, and measures the increased levels of five proteins in the blood. Results of a phase 2 biomarker study in 2008 report that it is 94% accurate in diagnosing ovarian cancer at all stages, compared to 89% for CA125 alone.
Nick Gatsios, Managing Director of HealthLinx Ltd comments: “The UK launch marks the first large-scale roll-out of OvPlex™ outside Australia. We are confident of the benefits that OvPlex™ can offer symptomatic women in the UK as it is by far the most effective diagnostic for the detection of ovarian cancer at all stages. We are continually developing OvPlex™ and results of the first stage of our larger study, due later this year, should prove the product has even greater accuracy.”
Louise Bayne, CEO of Ovacome, a charity dedicated to helping the women and families suffering from the disease comments: “OvPlex™ is an exciting development and offers hope for symptomatic women seeking a better chance of either alleviating their concerns or getting an early diagnosis. We eagerly anticipate any new diagnostic tool and the trial data on OvPlex™ indicates excellent potential.”
Find out more about OvPlex™ Ovarian Cancer Diagnosis test on our treatment page